Lighter with single member valve activator and spark generator support

ABSTRACT

A lighter containing a fuel reservoir, lift type valve means and a pivotally mounted valve activator and sparkwheel combination, the combination characterized by a single molded member comprising the pivot means, the valve activator, the pressure piece, the flint tube and the sparkwheel carrier.

United States Patent [191 Court 1 June 11, 1974 1 LIGHTER WITH SINGLE MEMBER VALVE ACTIVATOR AND SPARK GENERATOR SUPPORT [75] lnventor: Patrick R. Court, Los Angeles,

Calif.

[73] Assignee: Paul G. Garrity, Stamford, Conn.

[22] Filed: Mar. 7, 1973 2: Appl. No.: 338,991

[52] U.S. C1. 431/254, 431/276 [51] Int. Cl F23q l/04 [58] Field of Search 431/254, 276, 277

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,423,160 1/1969 Genoud 431/276 3,601,5l7 8/1971 Rosenthal 431/254 Primary Examiner-Carroll B. Dority, Jr.

[57 ABSTRACT A lighter containing a fuel reservoir, lift type valve means and a pivotally mounted valve activator and sparkwheel combination, the combination characterized by a single molded member comprising the pivot means, the valve activator, the pressure piece. the flint tube and the sparkwheel carrier.

7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEBJIIN 1 1 1914 18163358 SHEET 3 OF 3 LIGHTER WITH SINGLE MEMBER VALVE ACTIVATOR AND SPARK GENERATOR SUPPORT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to improved lighters of the type using a liquid fuel which becomes gaseous at ambient temperatures and pressures, and more particularly to such lighters which are of such low cost to manufacture that they may be thrown away or otherwise disposed of when the fuel supply is exhausted.

In recent years throwaway or disposable lighters have become quite popular. Efforts have been made to make such lighters economical to manufacture in order to keep the cost low enough to justify notrefilling the lighter. This may be accomplished by reducing the labor needed to assemble the lighter and/or the number of parts or components used in the lighter.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved lighter of the disposable type which includes a minimum number of parts and which lends itself to ease of manufacture with a minimum of assembly labor.

In accordance with the present invention, an improved cigarette lighter is provided in which the spark generating means as well as the gas valve activator are primarily incorporated into one basic part which may be molded from any suitable plastic material.

The present invention may best be understood from a review of the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but which should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of a lighter in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional longitudinal view of the lighter taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially sectional and fragmentary view of the lighter along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2 with the lighter in an at-rest" position;

FIG. 4 is a partially sectional and fragmentary view of the lighter as shown in FIG. 3 with the lighter in an activated position;

FIG. 5 is a sectional transverse view of the lighter along lines 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional transverse view of the lighter along lines 6-6 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the single molded member which acts as the valve activator, mounts the sparkwheel and holds the spark producing flint.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings and to FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular, a lighter 10 in accordance with the present invention is depicted. The lighter 10 contains a fuel reservoir 12 in which is stored a liquified fuel F, such as butane, which becomes gaseous at ambient temperatures and pressures. The reservoir 12 has a bottom wall 14 and a continuous sidewall 16 which is advantageously tapered to permit ease of molding. The walls 14 and 16 form the lower half 18 of the lighter housing with the molded piece 20 which is joined to the lower half 18 acting as the upper half of the housing.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a threaded recess 22 is provided in that portion 23 of the housing 20 which acts as the top wall of the reservoir 12. A gas valve 24 of the well-known plunger type is threadably fitted into the recess 22.

In the illustrated embodiment the plunger type valve does not have an internal spring. Instead, the valve is opened and closed by a spring urged valve activator or lifter. Valves of both types are well known in the prior art and may be used with the present invention. An internal spring valve is shown in US. Pat. No. 3,423,160 issued .Ian. 21, 1969 to Genoud and a non-internal spring valve is shown in US. Pat. No. 3,063,276 issued Nov. 13, 1962 to Cassan.

An opening 26 is provided in the top wall 23 connecting the valve recess 22 with the reservoir 12 and the fuel F held therein. A wick 28 extends from the reservoir through the opening 26 to insure a supply of fuel to the valve 24.

A second recess 30 is provided in the upper housing end 20 to accommodate the lighter spark generator and valve lifter. The spark generator and valve lifter includes a single molded member 32 which serves the functions of mounting a sparkwheel and holding a flint as well as acting as a valve lifter for the valve 24. A pair of spaced apart parallel flanges 34 extend upwardly in the illustrated embodiment from the upper housing half 20 and these flanges support the single molded member 32.

A pair of bearing openings 36 are provided in the flanges 34 and a pair of substantially vertically tapered grooves 38 are also molded in the flanges connecting with the openings 36. A set of axle stubs 40 extend from member 32 (as shown in FIG. 7) and these are journaled in the openings 36. The tapered grooves 38 permit the stubs 40 to be easily inserted therein and the resilient supporting flanges 34 yield, allowing the stubs to slide into the openings 36 and then the flanges return to their normal vertical position, thus mounting the member 32 in a fixed, but rotatable position.

Extending from the member 32 is a valve lifter portion 42 which has an opening 44 in its end forming a bifurcated or forked end. While the opening 44 accom-.

modates the burner tube 46 of the valve 24, the burner tube is fitted with an upper flange 48 and a lower flange 49 so that the forked end of valve lifter 42 is fitted between these flanges and they in turn limit the vertical movement of the lifter relative to the burner tube.

A flint tube 50 is also an integral part of member 32 and into the tube 50 is fitted a spring 52 which holds a flint in position.

Mounted opposite the tube 50 and extending upwardly from the member 32 is a pair of spaced apart and parallel sparkwheel supports 56 which carry a pair of inwardly directed axle stubs 58. A sparkwheel 60 having a central opening 61 is snapped into place and rotatably mounted on the stubs 58 so that the wheel is located in an abrading relationship with the flint 54.

Finally, the member 32 includes a pressure piece 62 which extends in a direction opposite to that of the valve lifter 42.

The valve 24 includes a toothed collar 64 which overlies a leaf spring 66. This leaf spring has an opening 68 therein which permits it to surround the valve 24 but it is of a lesser diameter than the extent of the collar 64. Thus, the spring 66 is held in position between the outer surface of top wall 23 and collar 64. The opposite end 70 of the spring 66 is unattached and it bears against the underside 72 of the pressure piece 62.

The opening recess 30 in the upper housing has a well portion 74 which accommodates a substantial portion of the spring 52 which is acting against the flint 54.

In actual operation the single molded member 32 is moved from its at-rest position as shown in FIG. 3 to an activated position as shown in FIG. 4. Merely by placing the thumb on the sparkwheel 60 and rotating it in a clockwise manner (as depicted in FIG. 3) the wheel is turned against the flint generating a field of sparks. At the same time the thumb of the user comes to rest on the pressure piece 62 causing the member 32 to rotatably move about the axle stubs 40 which are journaled in the openings 36 of the supporting flanges 34. This'causes the forked end of the valve lifter 42 to swing upwardly (also in a clockwise direction) against the upper flange 48 of the burner tube 46. In this raised position the valve 24 is opened permitting the fuel F in the reservoir to escape through the burner tube as a gas. Inasmuch as the gaseous fuel is in the path of the sparks generated by the abrading action of the sparkwheel against the flint, the gas is ignited providing a flame. As long as the pressure piece 62 is depressed the valve will remain open causing the flame to burn. When pressure is removed from the pressure piece 62 the action of the leaf spring 66, and particularly the free end 70, will cause the member 32 to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction (as depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4) bringing the valve lifter 42 to bear against the lower flange 49 on the burner tube 46. This action closes the valve 24 and shuts off the flow of fuel from the reservoir 12.

The wide recess in the upper housing half 20 is of sufficient extent to permit the flint tube 50 to move back and forth while a well 74 holds the spring 52 in a fixed position throughout most of its length.

In order to protect the valve mechanism a'cap 76 surrounds the upper portion of the lighter 10. This cap 76 includes s top opening 78 through which the flame from the burner tube 46 may extend.

The regulation of the size of the flame depends upon the mechanical pressure adjustment of the valve 24. Such adjustments are well known to those skilled in the art and in the illustrated lighter (as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6) it includes an adjuster 80 which extends through an opening 81 in cap 76 and meshes with teeth 82 on the collar 64.

The means of filling the reservoir 12 with fuel F is well known to those skilled in the art. It may be accomplished by having the valve 24 in an open position and forcing fuel therethrough under pressure; or by placing an opening in the bottom wall 14 of the reservoir, filling therethrough and thereafter plugging the opening. The means of filling is optional with the maker of the lighter.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the use of the single molded member 32 serves a multiple number of purposes greatly reducing the cost of the lighter l0 and permitting it to be used as a throwaway.

What is claimed:

1. A lighter comprising:

a housing having a reservoir therein for storing a supply of liquified fuel which is gaseous at ambient temperatures and pressure;

valve means .communicating with the reservoir and with the atmosphere, said valve means including a burner tube adapted to be raised whereby fuel passes from the reservoir through said valve means to the atmosphere, escaping as a gas; I

a valve activator and spark generator combination pivotally mounted on support means affixed to said housing and positioned relative to said burner tube whereby a field of sparks generated by said generator contacts gaseous fuel coming from the burner tube;

said combination including a single molded member having pivot means for mounting said member on the support means, a lever extending from said pivot means and engaging the burner tube, a pressure piece extending from said pivot means, and a flint tube also extending from said pivot means and swingably positioned within an opening in said housing; and

a sparkwheel rotatably mounted on said member and overlying the flint tube in frictional engagement with a flint, whereby the sparkwheel is adapted to be rotated to generate a field of sparks and the pressure piece depressed in a single movement of the user so that the lever allows the burner tube to release gaseous fuel from the reservoir into the field of sparks and the flint tube is free to be swingably moved in the tube opening.

2. A lighter as defined in claim 1 wherein the support means includes a pair of spaced flanges extending from the housing having means for receiving pivot stubs extending from the molded member.

3. A lighter as defined in claim 2 wherein at least one flange has a vertically tapered groove therein to receive one of said pivot stubs whereby the molded member may be depressed along said groove and the flange urged to yield to permit the pivot stubs to be rotatably but fixedly positioned in the means for receiving said stubs.

4. A lighter as defined in claim 3 wherein each flange has a vertically tapered groove therein, each groove to receive one of the pivot stubs.

5. A lighter as defined in claim 1 and further including a spring member urging the molded member to a position whereby the valve means is closed.

6. A lighter as defined in claim 3 wherein the spring member includes a leaf type spring beneath the pressure piece urging said piece pivotally away from the housing.

7. A lighter as defined in claim 1 wherein said housing is comprised of two portions; an upper portion carrying the valve means, burner tube and the valve activator and spark generator combination and is adapted to be fitted in sealing engagement with an open top lower portion to form the fuel reservoir. 

1. A lighter comprising: a housing having a reservoir therein for storing a supply of liquified fuel which is gaseous at ambient temperatures and pressure; valve means communicating with the reservoir and with the atmosphere, said valve means including a burner tube adapted to be raised whereby fuel passes from the reservoir through said valve means to the atmosphere, escaping as a gas; a valve activator and spark generator combination pivotally mounted on support means affixed to said housing and positioned relative to said burner tube whereby a field of sparks generated by said generator contacts gaseous fuel coming from the burner tube; said combination including a single molded member having pivot means for mounting said member on the support means, a lever extending from said pivot means and engaging the burner tube, a pressure piece extending from said pivot means, and a flint tube also extending from said pivot means and swingably positioned within an opening in said housing; and a sparkwheel rotatably mounted on said member and overlying the flint tube in frictional engagement with a flint, whereby the sparkwheel is adapted to be rotated to generate a field of sparks and the pressure piece depressed in a single movement of the user so that the lever allows the burner tube to release gaseous fuel from the reservoir into the field of sparks and the flint tube is free to be swingably moved in the tube opening.
 2. A lighter as defined in claim 1 wherein the support means includes a pair of spaced flanges extending from the housing having means for receiving pivot stubs extending from the molded member.
 3. A lighter as defined in claim 2 wherein at least one flAnge has a vertically tapered groove therein to receive one of said pivot stubs whereby the molded member may be depressed along said groove and the flange urged to yield to permit the pivot stubs to be rotatably but fixedly positioned in the means for receiving said stubs.
 4. A lighter as defined in claim 3 wherein each flange has a vertically tapered groove therein, each groove to receive one of the pivot stubs.
 5. A lighter as defined in claim 1 and further including a spring member urging the molded member to a position whereby the valve means is closed.
 6. A lighter as defined in claim 3 wherein the spring member includes a leaf type spring beneath the pressure piece urging said piece pivotally away from the housing.
 7. A lighter as defined in claim 1 wherein said housing is comprised of two portions; an upper portion carrying the valve means, burner tube and the valve activator and spark generator combination and is adapted to be fitted in sealing engagement with an open top lower portion to form the fuel reservoir. 